Puerto Williams - Clearance

See full details on clearing into and out of Chile at Noonsite's Chile Formalities.

Yacht Clearance Formalities for Puerto Williams

If this is your first port of entry for Chile:

• Prior to arrival, contact the Coast Guard by VHF Channel 16 and request authorization to moor at the Micalvi Club and wait there without disembarking for health, fauna and floral authorities to arrive.
• Once cleared by these authorities, go to the DPI police for immigration clearance then to the Customs office (Aduana) and finally to the Coast Guard.
• PDI will require the physical presence of all crew and passengers.
• SAG (the authorities responsible for avoiding alien flora and fauna arriving on Chilean soil) may inspect the vessel and confiscate fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, though enforcement is mixed.
• It is essential that those for whom this is the first port of entry into Chile receive their "Admiso Temporal" from Aduana as those who leave without it will have serious problems when clearing out of Chile.
• Note:  if there is a cruise ship in port, there may be a long wait for clearance.

Fees and Charges:

After clearance formalities have been completed, you must pay a maintenance fee for the lighthouse, beacons and signals service.  This tax is an 'annual' fee but cruisers report it is also possible to pay a single voyage fee.

See main Fees section for standard charges.

Domestic Cruising in Chile:

Yachts are required to inform the authorities of their intended route while in Chilean waters and, when practical, make a daily position reports on VHF Channel 16 or via email to the MRCC. In an effort to “more closely control foreign vessels”, further Clearance rules apply for local trips from Puerto Williams (for example to the Horn, to the glaciers (Ventisqueros) and up the Beagle Channel) for which specific itineraries may be specified by the Capitania and domestic zarpes will be issued.

Yachts should notify Puerto Williams Radio on VHF CH16 before movement into or out of the bay.

International Departure Formalities from Puerto Williams:

A departure zarpe can be issued 24 hours in advance of an intended departure. International zarpes will have to be signed by Aduana and PDI.

Last updated:  April 2024